Joshua

masc. proper name, biblical successor of Moses, from Hebrew Yehoshua, literally "the Lord is salvation." Joshua tree (1867) is perhaps so called because its shape compared to pictures of Joshua brandishing a spear (Josh. viii:18). In the top 10 list of names for boys in the U.S. since 1979.

Joshua

In the Old Testament, the leader who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. Joshua is best known for his destruction of the city of Jericho. When Joshua was besieging the city, God instructed him to have his priests blow their trumpets and all his troops give a great shout. At the sound of the shout, the walls of the city collapsed, and Joshua's troops rushed in. (See “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.”)